Reform councillor guilty of offensive post about Nigerians

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 9 Nov, 16:09 · Archive

A Reform UK councillor has been found guilty of posting a grossly offensive message on Facebook suggesting Nigerians should be melted down to fill potholes.

Glenn Gibbins, 66, a Reform UK councillor representing Hylton Castle Ward in Sunderland, has been found guilty of posting a grossly offensive message on Facebook. The post, made in March 2024 two years before his election to the council in May 2026, stated: 'Carnt believe the amount of nigerians in town… should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes!!'

Gibbins was convicted at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court of a malicious communication under the Communications Act 2003. The post came to light when the campaign group Hope Not Hate examined his social media history after he was announced as a Reform UK candidate. Police were informed following his election to the council. Reform UK subsequently suspended him in August when the post became public.

During the trial, Gibbins denied posting a grossly offensive message and claimed his comment was 'tongue-in-cheek' and 'an unreal scenario'. Emma Dowling, prosecuting, countered that 'the comment about melting them down conjures up despicable images'. She argued it implied that Nigerians were 'somewhat less than human, stripping people in that group of humanity'.

Godwin Ejeh, a community leader for Nigerians in Sunderland, gave evidence and led a protest outside City Hall when Gibbins should have been sworn in, hoping for an apology. Gibbins did not attend the ceremony after his suspension.

Gibbins will be sentenced later on Monday. His legal team intends to appeal the verdict at crown court.

How it is being reported

• Reform councillor who said Nigerians should be 'melted down and used to fill in potholes' guilty of sending grossly offensive messageSunderland City councillor Glenn Gibbins, 66, denied breaching the Communications Act by making the post on Facebook two years before he was elected.Daily Mail · 9 Nov, 15:59
• Suspended Reform councillor guilty after saying ‘Nigerians should be melted down’Glenn Gibbins argued his posts were not grossly offensive (Picture: Owen Humphreys/Press Association) A suspended Reform candidate who said Nigerians should be melted down to ‘fill in the pot holes’ has been found guilty. Glenn Gibbins was convicted of a malicious communication two years before he…Metro · 9 Nov, 15:57
• Suspended Reform councillor Glenn Gibbins to face trial over Facebook post about melting down NigeriansNorthumbria Police investigated after the social media post was uncoveredThe Independent · 9 Nov, 09:11
• Suspended Reform councillor Glenn Gibbons to face trial over Facebook post about melting down NigeriansNorthumbria Police investigated after the social media post was uncoveredThe Independent · 9 Nov, 08:43

In this story: Glenn Gibbins · Reform UK · Sunderland · Hope Not Hate · Godwin Ejeh · Emma Dowling

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log